Singapore: A Punjabi-origin maid allegedly committed suicide by jumping from the 14th floor of a high-rise building after attacking her employer with a hammer over an employment-related dispute.

The incident came to light on Monday after the police found the body of Palwinder Kaur lying on the floor of the building where she worked. She was later pronounced dead by paramedic staff.

Palwinder worked in a house on the 14th floor of the Bedok Reservoir View apartments in Eastern suburbs of the city, the police said.

Palwinder was caught stealing twice from the house by her employer and was about to be repatriated. She pleaded her boss against doing so as she had loaned a large amount of money to come to Singapore, local media reports said.

The two engaged in an argument on the issue. Flying into a rage, Palwinder hit her employer in the head with a hammer before ending her life, the reports added.

The maid was also heard crying in the house before she committed suicide, a Chinese daily quoted a neighbour as saying. Further investigation in the case is underway.